He immortalized the line, “Bond, James Bond.” Legendary Scottish actor Sir Sean Connery has died at the age of 90 on Halloween. The somber news was confirmed by several sources, though no further information on his passing is available at this time.
Mr. Connery was one of the last true icons of modern film. He rose to fame as who many consider the very definition of James Bond. He first played Ian Fleming’s lovable but ruthless spy in 1962’s Dr. No.
Connery molded the character of James Bond into his own creation, mixing ruthlessness with a wit as dry as his martinis. The action set-pieces were thrilling, exotic and sexy.
An immediate hit with global audiences, Connery would go onto play Bond six more times, after finally deciding to retire from the role after Diamonds are Forever in 1971. He would be replaced by Roger Moore.
While Connery said he would never reprise the role, he actually did in 1983’s unofficial Bond entry, Never Say Never Again. Here’s a look at some Connery’s top Bond moments:
Connery would go on to star in numerous and varied films over the years, including Highlander, The Man Who Would Be King, The Hunt For Red October, The Name of the Rose and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Jimmy Malone in The Untouchables.
And yes, there was a lot of sex with beautiful women. Some of which would probably fall under #metoo now.
Other Bonds and Celebrities remember Connery
From current Bond Daniel Craig to “son” Harrison Ford, Connery was fondly remembered on social media.
“Sir Sean Connery will be remembered as Bond and so much more,” Craig said in a statement to USA Today. “He defined an era and a style. The wit and charm he portrayed on screen could be measured in mega watts; he helped create the modern blockbuster. He will continue to influence actors and film-makers alike for years to come.”
George Lazenby, who played Bond for only one film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, remembered Connery as “a great actor, a great man and underappreciated artist.”
The verified Twitter account for the James Bond films shared the actor died at the age of 90. Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said they were “devastated by the news.”
Sam Neill, who worked with Connery on 1990’s “The Hunt for Red October,” remembered every day with him on the set as “an object lesson in how to act,” Neill tweeted. “But all that charisma and power – that was utterly unique to Sean. RIP that great man, that great actor.”
Catherine Zeta-Jones, Connery’s co-star in 1999’s “Entrapment,” shared a photo of them together on Instagram and wrote, “I love you Sean Connery with all my heart. … I will cherish every moment I shared with you.”
Olivia Munn kept her remembrance simple by saying, “Rest in love, Legend.”
Harrison Ford paid tribute to his onscreen Indiana Jones’ father, Sean Connery.
Among his numerous, iconic roles and films, one of his most beloved performances was as Henry Jones Sr. in 1989’s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
“He was my father … not in life … but in Indy 3,” Ford said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “You don’t know pleasure until someone pays you to take Sean Connery for a ride in the sidecar of a Russian motorcycle bouncing along a bumpy, twisty mountain trail and getting to watch him squirm. God we had fun — if he’s in heaven, I hope they have golf courses. Rest in peace dear friend.”
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Bond villain Robert Carlyle, who played Renard in 1999’s The World Is Not Enough, tweeted twice Saturday morning. “RIP Sir Sean Connery.. a trailblazer, a true legend and a gentleman.” He also shared an image of himself with Connery in 2008 and called it one of his “proudest moments.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger, called Connery “one of the greatest actors of all time.”
“He provided endless entertainment for all of us & inspiration for me,” he wrote. “I’m not just saying that because he was a bodybuilder who placed in the Mr. Universe contest! He was an icon. My thoughts are with his family.”
Hugh Jackman took to Twitter on Saturday morning to mourn the icon.
“I grew up idolizing #SeanConnery,” Jackman wrote. “A legend on screen, and off. Rest In Peace.”
Producer and Director Frank Marshall, who produced all of the Indiana Jones films including the upcoming fifth one, had this to say, “Sir Sean Connery will be remembered for his talent, his charm, his wit and the many unforgettable roles he played, but he will always be Indy’s dad to us. It was an honor to know and work with him and our hearts are with his family and loved ones. Frank and Kathy
Spike Lee posted on Instagram to pay his respects. “We Just Lost ANOTHER Great-SEAN CONNERY/The Original JAMES BOND-007,” Lee wrote. “Some Of Earliest Memories Of My Late Mother (Jacqueline Shelton Lee) Taking Me To The Movies Was James Bond Joints.”
“No Disrespect To The Other Actors Who Later Played 007, But To Me Sean Is My Guy,” Lee added.
Actress Elizabeth Hurley kept it simple, “RIP the glorious Sean Connery,” she wrote, sharing an image of a young Connery reading, shirtless on a boat.
He was knighted by the Queen at Holyrood Palace in 2000. In August, he celebrated his 90th birthday.
Connery officially retired from acting in in 2007 after receiving the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award. There were rumors that he would appear as Henry Jones Sr. in the fourth Indiana Jones film, but he debunked those reports, stating that “retirement is just too much damned fun.”
His last film was the unextraordinary League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Luckily, we have many other films to remember the amazing actor by.
Alex Salmond, former first minister of Scotland, who was close friends with Sir Sean, described him to the BBC as “the world’s greatest Scot, the last of the real Hollywood stars, the definitive Bond.”
He said: “Sean Connery was all of these things but much more. He was also a staunch patriot, a deep thinker and outstanding human being.”
He added: “‘Scotland Forever’ wasn’t just tattooed on his forearm but was imprinted on his soul.”
